Photo L-R Rear; Noel Goodger (coach) Ian Zandstra, Ian Carratt, Geoff Tracey,
Greg Muller, Mick Pett, Steve Watt, Doug Roxborough, Keith Muller.
Front: Greg Horton, Jim Bryant, Bill Ellison, Tony Turner, Tom Stone, Bob McCombe. (Tom Stone’s mum was washing his white shorts.)

AND THEN THE WHEELS FELL OFF-BRIEFLY.
However before explaining that statement, 1972 was also the last year of Bomaderry High School being the Club’s home ground and also the last of Club Senior Vice President Foster Emery’s fund raising raffle.
BHS ground had a narrow entry point and Foster would position himself at that point and cajole spectators into buying tickets in the raffle, the prize being a dozen bottles of beer, drawn at half time in the last game. For several seasons and for reasons never explained, the winning ticket holder had just left the ground and “someone” would get the prize to them or a committeeman won or a multitude of other reasons why the prize was not collected.
Something went awry one day when one of the opposition team supporters actually had the winning ticket. A mercy dash took place to the Bomaderry pub to buy the dozen of KB as Foster had never actually been in possession of the prize. Nice little earner for the Club coffers.

Back to the fallen wheels of 1972. There were difficulties involved in fielding three teams and players were often forced to play more than one (or two) games. A number of reasons contributed to this. The retirement of a number of players from the early years and injuries took a toll. The Navy players were also involved in the then thriving Navy rugby competition and were often unavailable for Shoalhaven or had been posted to ships (those with water around them) and were away at sea. Matches were forfeited due to lack of players. This was despite the valiant efforts of First Grade captain/coach Steve Hill who had taken over coaching from Wally King who had been transferred in his job. Shortly after mid season the Club withdrew all grades from the IDRU competition. However it was not all gloom as the year produced many players whose names would long be linked with the club eg Greg Horton, Bruce Bishop and Peter Phelps.

As mentioned, Wally King, who was such a big influence on the Club, had moved on but one story concerning him is worthy of telling. Keep in mind Wally was a Police Prosecutor in the local courts. One of the players used to go to Tech College in Wollongong twice a week in the early evening. No bypass of Kiama in those days and the highway passed through town. Our player drove a distinctive car and attracted the attention of the local motorcycle cop. Over a period of many weeks the policeman followed the player through town but the player was a wake up to him. One day, obviously frustrated, the policeman hid in what was the old quarry at Bombo and after a short pursuit pulled the player over and gave him a ticket for speeding. The player didn’t agree and he vented his annoyance at the next Shoalhaven training session. After training Wally pulled the player over and said not to pay the fine but to take it to Kiama court. He also said that if the player saw him there, not to acknowledge him. Player went to court, told the magistrate he didn’t think he was going that fast. The magistrate then asked Wally (as the prosecutor) if the player had any other convictions, Wally stood up from table, removed his glasses, looked down at the case notes and said “not that I can see, your Honour”. Player off on a first offence.

The club was nothing if not resilient and in 1973 nominated Seconds & Thirds in the Illawarra competition. Tim Johnston had returned to Nowra and became the Club’s second President replacing Dr Bill Ryan. The still youthful Noel Goodger became coach of both grades. A young group of new players had joined the Club including Willie Watt, Ian Carratt, Peter Walsh & John Horton and along with experienced members like Ian Perkins, Steve Sweeney (later Club President) and Geoff Tracey ensured a successful comeback with both teams being placed midway on the ladder.

It is noteworthy that the badge on the playing jersey first appeared in 1973 and was the brainchild of Noel Goodger, a great clubman for many years. The Presentation Night was held at the Nowra Golf Club in early October and on the weekend of October 12-14 the Club undertook an end of season trip to Wagga. No bus trip for the touring party-a plane was hired to pick up the party from the old civilian (Masling) terminal at HMAS Albatross. The aircraft that arrived raised a few eyebrows and even more than eyebrows were raised when, in flight, a draft was found to be coming from the rear door. Foster Emery was with the group and, as he had been a pilot in WW2, he was asked if he could fly the plane. He went up to the cockpit to chat with the pilot and on his return told the lads that he could probably fly it but doubted that he could land it. Seat belts tightened even further. A fine trip nevertheless.

In 1974 NSW Rugby Union celebrated it Centenary. That year Shoalhaven Rugby Football Club-still wearing WHITE shorts-also celebrated with the Club’s two sides, Seconds & Thirds, both reaching the semi finals in the same year for the first time. Tim Johnston had been re-elected President and after a couple of lean years the Club had come back strongly and both teams were well balanced and the fact that there were a handy number of reserves indicated that. Seconds were led by Don Cooper at half with the hero of the 1969 Premiership side Bruce Buchan playing outside him. The scum was strong with the “Solicitors Second Row” of Tim Johnston & his legal partner Dave Boylson. Third grade had a definite height advantage with Trevor Kanaar in the line outs and Ian Perkins terrorized opponents at Number 8. Paul Hundy was captain & fullback with John Horton & David Goodman providing pace on the wings. However Seconds lost in the semis and Thirds went down in the final.

The year of 1974 was when the first of the New Zealand born players made their mark. Craig Brooking, an engineer working on the new dam at Kangaroo Valley (imagine-a NEW dam) was from the Auckland area. He played for Illawarra DRU at Country Week and became Shoalhaven Rugby’s first NSW Country representative when he was selected in Country Seconds